Machine for recording and reproducing sound motion pictures



NOV. 28, 1933. J. g KLEBER 1,937,089

MACHINE FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUCING SOUND MOTION PICTURES Fild Sept. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ.

[NVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1933. Q KLEBER 1.937,089

MACHINE FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUCING SOUND MOTION PICTURES Filed Sept. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6

PIC-3.8 FIG. 9

INVENTOR I 0*; BY

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,937,089 1 MACHINE FOR RECORDING AND REPRO- DUCING SOUND MOTION PICTURES Jackson Kleber, Jackson Heights, Y, v Application September 9, 1929. I Serial No. 391,201

8 Claims. (o1.17 9-100;3)

This invention relates to light recording and reproducing apparatus, more particularly when used in connection with talking moving picture machines in which a light responsive or sensitized ,6 film moves in conjunction with or is a part of V another film on which pictures are being exposed i or are already developed. Such apparatus has been previously constructed and requires extremely fine manipulation and adjustment. Heretofore 5.1." film has been exposed or sounds recorded thereon .in one machine, adapted by carefully designed operation, and the sounds have been reproduced from the film after exposure anddevelopment in another machine having adjustable features governing this operation. The present invention relates to a machine which will accomplish both of these operations by means of substantially the same adjustment features except for those pe- 2Q culiar to the elements of the machine not common to both.

It is therefore an object of this invention to pro vide a machine which will be adapted upon proper adjustment to both record and reproduce sound 25 onto and from alight film.

Another object is to improve the operation and simplify the construction of machines of this nature. I? A further object is to provide a simple and efii- 0. cient adjustment feature for rendering a recording device of this nature usable as a reproducer;

' Another object is to improve the operation and minimize the number of adjustments necessary to the reproduction of aparticular film by per- H mitting such reproduction on the same machine on which the film was produced. I

Another object is to improve the operation of light deflecting means used in connection with machines of this nature by rendering such means properly aperiodic in their movementsl A still further object is to improve the slit construction of machines forcrecording and repro- .ducing sound by light methods, more particularly wherein separate light deflecting means maybe dispensed with and special means forcontrolling the length of the slit is provided.

A further object is to adapt a recordingmachine for reproducing by properly arranging the light modifying, deflecting and recording elements.

Another object is to improve the operation of' light recording and reproducing machines i which there is provided a slit for restricting the 55 passage of light by focusing the reflected image adjustable features, particularly applicable to this v the slit of Fig. 6.-

of the slit upon the light recording element or film.'.

A further object is to provide apparatus for producing light films having more than one light track, each of which is made simultaneously with another and if desired may be made slightly out of phase therewith by deflecting the light beam to another portion of the film more remotefrom the portion on which the first light. beam is directed or by staggering the individual sections of theslit. 7

Further and more definite objects will appear from the following specifications, claims; and drawings, in which: V I Figure 1 shows a. diagrammatic. view of the features embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement 'ofa sound machine and a moving picture machine according to the features of my'in ven.. tion; i e I y Fig. 3 is a modified formof light deflecting device which may be used herein; Fig. 4 shows the means forrendering the vibratory light deflecting elementsufiiciently aperiodic in its movement.

Fig. 5 is a section of a'film produced by such a deflecting element. a

Fig. 6 is a modified form of slitwhich maybe used with-the features indicated'in connection 7 with Fig. l or maybe used without the separate light defiecton'in which-case the modulation cir.-,.- cuit may be connected directlyto theijniagnet of Fig. 7 is a stillfurther'modified form of slit arrangement 'to be used asstated in connection-to 90.

. Fig. 8 is a section of film made with the modified form of deflector shown in-Fig.- r 1 Fig. 9 is a section of film produced-with the, modified form of slit indicated inconnection with 5.. Figm I Fig. 10'shows another modified form of slit to be used as indicated-in connection with Fig; 6.

Referring now more particularly, to the 'draw'-- ings, a source of light l, shown as a lamp with 1 helical filament but any other type filament might as well be used, isdirected toward the light condenser 2. This condenser concentrates the 1 light onto a slit 3 formed in a shield so that no,

other light may reach apparatus disposed beyond 10 I this point than that. which passes through the slit. In lighting this slit it is desirable to illumi-. nate theend which, is focused onthe mid-portion of the film, more brilliantly than elsewhere. This can be done by properly arranging the condenser sov 2 2. Also, by using a small prism adjacent one end of the slit or by purposely using a lens which produces a spectrum at one end, the sharpness of the sound outline may be improved.

The slit 3 being thus illuminated, the light is directed further throughthe set of light converg ing objective lenses 4 having any number of lenses, the only requisite being that an accurate imagebe cast thereby; The light passes through these lenses onto the mirror 5, which will be described more in detail hereinafter. From the mirror it passes onto a movable filrn'fi which may have light sensitive salts deposited thereon in a well known manner. I Y I v The slit 3, objective lenses mirror 5 and film 6 are soplaced as to produce an accurate image a of the slit 3 upon the film 6. This is an impori so I et 18 connected to motor shaft 19 driven by niotor 20. Another sprocket 21 on a suitable motion tant feature of the invention inasmuch as it ie:

, vents distortion of the sounds recorded, and lends nected to a source of power 12 and. to a microphone or output of an amplifier which is connected" to a microphone 13 through double throw switch 14; Onthe other side of the switch l l'i's connected a-circuit 15' having battery 16, the adjusting rheostat 17 which is of the proper size to vary-the amount of current through the coils of the'loud speaker unit 11 from practically no current at all: to the 'maximum permissible energizationthereof, This circuit could be per- ,manentl'yconnected to the microphone if desired, omitting the switch 16.

If th'e film is moved at a suitable speed at the same time that soundsa're impressed uponthe microphone 13, it is obvious that "a'sound curvev will be traced upon the fihn in accordance with the movements of the mirror, sincein'this-op'erati'on theimageslof theslit-will be moved. longitudinally' across the film, tracing a'sth'e film moves, an oscillograph of the sound curve with one endof the image; This is quite distinct from systems depending upon the variation of illumination of the slit. v p I The film 6 is held in a suitable guide to prevent lateral movement and is propelled-by sprockpicture. camera or projector propels the film 23 in manner common to such devices. It necessary) to provide a'detachable coupling between the two sprockets so that any type of picture '"camera or projector may be utilized.

' On the opposite side of thefihn from the curse tion from the source of lightor'on the opp. H side from the light there is arranged within the structure of the machineza light responsive cell 26. 'Thiscell is connected witharnplifying sy tem 27 composed. of vacuum tube amplifiers and sources of energizi g potential, I nections 28 be in circuit with aloud speaker.

In any type of electro-ma'gnet c' unit there'is' a certain'definite mechanical bias given to the moving armature'to return it to its normal positionas well as to prevent its sticking tothe pole pieces. "In the present instance this is supple- The output concop er mented by a normal bias of the mirror. This is ordinarily adjusted when the device is constructed to throw'the image of the slit on the film so that the brilliantly illuminated tracing end will take a normal positionin about the middle of the The circuit 15 is arranged with its constants adjusted so that the image of the slit may be thrown entirely across the filrnby giving the mirror the proper bias electrically. This electrical bias might also be used in conjunction with the microphone to more accurately position the mirror and slit image on the film. This arrange- I rnent is more satisfactory than in attempting to "mechanically change the bias on the mirror, particularly because of the delicacy of the parts and the trouble occasioned by refocusing the slit necessitated thereby. Such biasing may be done with the vibratory mirror adjacent the film be cause in this position the entire slit-image can beshifted whereas elsewhere the position of the image is controlled by other elements which might need. to be readjusted whenever the light is redirected through them. However, thefuse of a biasing means on a deflector mightbe used in other relations. a

If instead of using the mirror'shown in Fig. 1, a. mirror suspension such as shown in Fig. 3, is

used, a double modulation of the light'band will result; Here there are two'rnirrors SO and 31, hinged at separated points 32: andi33, respectively. Adjacent portions are connected to =a cominon flexible yoke '35 and tothe operating unit 36 by rod 37. This moves the mirrors in opposite directions, causing the corresponding beams of light to produce s, double effect. Itis necessary that the mirrors be adjusted sothat theywillbe substantially parallel and that the-end of one,

beam will not interfere with the'other.v -Ii de-' sired the mirrors may beoperated byindepend-v ent units of different natural frequency responses so that one having, a natural resonance characteristic of .low' frequency and another of higher frequency independently connected to different mirrors and operated from th'e same electrical output 'may-be used; y 7/ -'It is desirable that the mirrors or other light deflecting means used, be properly damped; so as to be rendered substantially e g eriodic in their movementthroughout' all of the frequencies impressed thereon. For this purpose it is necessary to apply the damper directly tothe vibrating element, in this case the mirror, on account 'ofa-t-he likelihood of independent vibration of the individual-parts of the moving system. In'doing: this care must be taken not to damp-rtoo much, thereby preventing sufiiciently free movementand also the damping must be sufficient to prevent distortien clue to the pronounced resonance of the parts.

In overcom ng these- ,difiicultiesit: has been. found that with a mirror of small size the damping may bea ccomplished byapplying a damper, such as is shown at 40 inFig, 4 ,under the edge of: the Lmirror 41.;Thisdampe'umay be of any, suitable material .not -too hard" in texture. Sponge rubber has been found to be very satisfactory for be lacedflat h ge dz on which the mirror is suspended; .In order to obtain the greatest eifect of the unit it is desirable to position thefihinge quitenear to' conn ction 43130 thelunit. These;-

ticns are madeasnear as possible to twoco-r I x V ofv the mirror so that there W111 be as the midd its 1 his purpose; This damper should thepoint furthest away from the line perpendicular to its plane as possible. This is to-preventz-throwing the image of the slit out of focus. The mirrors described in Figs. 1 and 3 should be supplied with such dampers. This damping action may also be supplemented by using a piece of sponge rubber under both edges of the mirror and also against the connection 10 or 43 to prevent resonant vibration. For instance a piece of damping material might be used in the space 44 between the rod 10 and the pole inside of the unit in Fig. l.

With proper damping'of thedefiecting element a trueoscillograph with as is shown in Fig. 5 will result. If improper damping is accomplished the wave form will not only be distorted but also the density of the film will be varied owing to uneven periods of exposure. With the double mirror'an envelope or doubly modulated form will beeffected as is shown in Fig. 8.

A slit such as shown in Fig. 6 may be used withouta deflector. Here the shutter 45 is positioned to cover part "of the slit 46 andis movably hinged to a stationary part 4'7 by the lever arm 48, carrying the armature 49 actuated by the electromagnet 50. This shutter could be modified as shown in Fig. '7 if desired giving a plurality of modulated tracks on the film shown in 'Fig. 9. In recording sound in this way the light beams may be deflected by prisms or by staggering the different parts of the slit'as divided by the combs.

Here the comb is permanently fixed to the slit 53 by the pin or rivet 54 and the comb 55 is secured to the moving system as previously described in connection with Fig. 6. A still further modified formof slit is shown in Fig. 10 wherein the fulcrum is at '57 and the shutter 58 has'an inclined edge 59 cooperating with the slit 60. The shutter isoperated by the magnet 61. The light cell should be so arranged'that any light which passes through the film will affect the'current in circuit with the cell. I After the'film has'been exposed and developed it may again be'used in the same machine thereby insuring that no difiiculty will be encountered with varying sizes of film or other adjustments. The only difference 'in'the use of the machine which projects the image of the slit upon the film in its operation as a reproducer. and a recorder is that in the first case the image of the slitrnust cover the whole film whereas in recording it must be movable and cover only a part of the film.

It has been found that the mirror 5, when the device is used as a recorder, must be so biased as 1; to throw the image of the slit 3 so that the end of it will come in the middle of the sensitized portion of the film. However, when the apparatus is used as a reproducer, the entire slit must cover the film or at least that much of it as is affected by the exposure, to obtain the best results. The switch 14 and the rheostat 17 are therefore provided in the circuit 15 to permit easy change from one condition to the other. It is quite apparent that this is much simpler and more effect; tive than attempting to readjust the entire light system as would be necessary with the arrangementof parts according to previous machines of this nature.

- The apparatus may be operated as a recorder by using the microphone 13 on the location at which the moving pictures are being taken by synchronizing the sprocket shaft 19 with the camera. This may be done by coupling the shafts of the two machines. When the action is to be reproduced the switch l i may be reversed and the proper bias giventhe mirror .5 .to project the image of the slit entirely aorossthe film-.11 1 this case the shaft 19 may be coupled-with the motion picture projector, the-proper synchroni: zation having been determined. Now when the light cell 26 is energized'togetherjwith ill-Sam: plifying circuits the loudspeaker or, other device connected to the output 28 will :reproducegthe sounds in accordanceiwith themotion shownzin the pictures. It also'apparent that. the entire mechanism should be .enclosedin alight proof casing so as to prevent interferencewiththezop eration byexternal source'sgat-lightk v The sound film may be printed on thesame film with the pictures if desired, so that. the vre-.

producer may be mounted above orjbelownthe' projector and the two reproductions"thentprop: erly spaced in phase to compensate for the .dif: ference in time required to travel between the twomachines. 1 g 1 Q lVarious other modifications and changes-might be'made both in the structure set forthand the operation indicated without departing from the I through the rays of light directed from thebbigjective lens at .a position where the image o'f thev slit is'formed, asound operated light controlling meansarranged to vibrate the beam-of lightzat' right angles to the line of film movement.v and located along .the light path between 'the slit and the film and alight responsive cell at the opposite side of the film from said light controlling'means;

2; An optical soundtranslating apparatus. forselectively recording or reproducing soundshaming, in combination, a source of light; a light com.

denser, a screenhaving a slit arranged in a ;'concentrated beam of light from the'condenser,"an

objective lens in the path of light from the slit a film guided for-.movement ina plane passing throughthe rays of light directedgfrom' the ob,- jective lens at a position where the image of the slit is formed, a light controlling means located along the light path between the slit and the film for vibrating the light pathat right angles to the line of film movement, a sound operated device for operating the light controlling means,

a light responsive cell at the opposite side'ofthe film from said light controlling means and a manually shiftable apparatus for connecting and disconnecting the sound operated device from the light controlling means and at the same time for actuating the light controlling means to change the normal position of theslitimage on the film when the sound operateddevice is disconnected rom the light controlling means.

3. An optical sound translating apparatus for selectively recording or reproducing sounds having, in combination, a source of light, a light condenser, a screen having a slit arranged in a concentrated beam of light from the condenser, an objective lens in the path of light from the slit, a film guided for movement in a plane passing through the rays of light directed from the objective lens at a position where the image of the slit is formed, an electrically operatedlight controlling means located along the light path be tween the slit and the film, a microphone for op erating the light controlling means, a source of potential'for producinga steady deflection of the light controlling means, a light responsive cell 1 at the opposite side of the film from said light controlling means and a double throw switch operable at willto connect the source of potential to the light controlling'means and at the same time to disconnect the microphone from the light controlling means. i

.4. An optical sound translating machine having, incombination, a source of light, a light con denser, a screenhaving a slit arranged in a con-.

centrated beam of light from the condenser, an

' objectivelens in the path of light from the slit,

afilm'guided for movement in a plane passing through the rays of light directed from the objective lens and'an electromagnetically operated mirrorlocated alongthe light path between the slit and the film and provided with a' sponge rubber vibration damper secured between the mirror and-a stationary part to control the light projected onthe film.

- 5. An optical translating apparatus for selectively recording or reproducing sounds having, in combination, a source of light, an optical system for directing a narrow beam of light upon a film,

alight responsive cellpositioned to receive the light-passing through the film and-means for controlling the'light acting upon the film comprising, an electromagnetically operated mirror mechanically biased to a normal inactive position in which one edge. of the light beam strikes the central part of the'film, a microphone for vibrating the mirror from its normal position and :meansioperable at will. to produce'a steady defiection' ofthe mirror from normal position to a position in'whic h the light beamis thrown en- "tirely across the film and simultaneously to 'disconnect the microphone from the electromagnetically-operated mirror. I r j 1 '=6.=An optical translating apparatus for selectively recording or reproducing sounds having, in

, combination, a source of light, an optical system for directinga narrow beam of, light upon a film,

a light responsive cell positioned to receive the light passing through the film, and meansfor controlling the light acting on the filmcomprising an electromagnetically operated mirror mechanically biased toanormal inactive position,

a microphone for vibrating the mirror from its normal position, a source of potential for producing a steady deflection of the mirror from normal position and a switch operable at will to'connect the microphone to the electromagnetically operated mirror and simultaneously to disconnect the source of potential from the mirror. 1

'7. An optical translating apparatus for selectively recording or reproducing sounds having, in combination, a source of light, an optical'systern for directing a narrow beam of light upon a film, a light responsive cell positioned to receive the light passing through the film, and means for controlling the light acting on the film comprising an electromagneticallyv operated mirror mechanically biased to a normal inactive position in which one edge of the light beam strikes the central part of the 'fi1m,.a microphone for vibrating the mirror from .its' normal position, a source of potential for producing a steady dc? 'fiectionof the mirror from normal position to a denser, a screen having a slit arranged in a con-,-

centrated beam of light from the condenser, an 1" objective'lens in the path of light fromthe slit, a film guided formovement in a plane, passing through the rays of light directed from the objec-. tive lens and a'sound operated light controlling means located "along the light path between the slit and the film comprising a mirrorsuspension a hinge upon which the mirroris mounted, an i actuating rod'attached to the mirror suspension adj acent' thev hinge and a. vibration absorbing element positionedv to contact with the mirror' suspension in substantial alignment with said hinge and the point of attachment of the actuat ing rod butiat the opposite side of the actuating rodv from said hinge v v JACKSON 0. KLEBER.

GERNFE IAEE GE GQRRECTEON.

Eatem No. 1,937,089, November 28, 1933.

it is hereby certified ihat ermr agzgears in the printed specification fii tbs above raummred patent requi cm'rectien as ieilaws: Page 3, line 105, claim i, for "and" read or; and than the said Leuers Patent should be read wiih this corremion iherein thai the same may cenform i0 irhe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this iSti: day a? ehruzary, A. D. 1934.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents! 

